Coin operated adding machine for grocery chain store carts



Nov. 29, 1966 w. H. POWERS 3,

COIN OPERATED ADDING MACHINE FOR GROCERY CHAIN STORE CARTS Filed Jan. 13, 1964 l N s Hop az's ADDUNG MACHMZE To @5 COW Ag 9% r 97 RE'SFONSIVE MEQH.

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United States Patent 3,288,478 COIN OPERATED ADDING MACHINE FOR GROCERY CHAIN STORE CARTS Wesley H. Powers, 6310 181st Place SW., Lynnwood, Wash. Filed Jan. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 337,386 1 Claim. (Cl. 280-3339) The present invention relates to coin operated devices, and more particularly it pertains to a miniature coin operated adding machine, designed to be readily mounted on a grocery store cart by means of braces, and to be used by the stores customers so as to gain a close estimation of their cash purchases prior to reaching the stores' check stand.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a ten cent coin operated adding machine, which may need only add to $50.00 on any item purchased. The machine may be designed to show the total at all times after each item is rung up, until canceled by a lever attached to the machine side. With the total canceled, the machine may not add again until a fresh dime has been inserted. The keyboard of the machine may contain pushbuttons or keys properly numbered for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents, and also for 1, 2, 3, 4 and dollars. A name-plate attached to the adding machine may accommodatingly inform the prospective customers that the machine is mainly provided for their own benefit, and to gain as close an estimate of their alleged bill as possible, and that the stores total amount determined upon, will be the final amount on which they will settle their bill.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means of mounting any conventionally designed small adding machine to a grocery store cart by means of appropriate braces.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for mounting an adding machine to a grocery store cart and in such a manner as not to interefere with the storing of the carts, one within the other, in the usual manner.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, references will be made to the accompanying drawings, where like character numerals denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred mounting of the adding machine to a grocery store cart;

FIG. 2'is a plan elevational view of the adding machine, mounted to the stores cart by means of braces;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the coin operated adding machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another preferred arrangement of mounting the adding machine so as to allow the car-ts to be stored one inside the other in the usual manner; and

FIG. 5 is a plan elevational view of the adding machine in FIG. 4, showing manner of mounting by means of braces.

It is to be understood that the present form of disclosure is merely for the purpose of illustration, and that there might be various modifications thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention as herein set forth.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the adding machine M, best shown in FIG. 1, mounted to the stores cart in accordance with the present invention, comprises, in combination, the carts wire frame 11, with the latter being formed out of the upper wire rim 12 (which may be appropriately welded to the carts wire 'frame 13), and may be mounted to a Wheeled frame 14 to roll freely upon two pairs of wheels 15. A push handle 16 may be provided for the convenience of the customers.

It may be seen that in one preferred mounting arrangement (see FIGS. 1 and 2), the frame 17 of the adding machine M, by means of the rectangular braces 18 and 19, and the rivets 20, may be held substantially below the wire rim 12. In another preferred mounting arrangement (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5), the adding machines frame 21, by means of the braces 22 and 23, may be mounted substantially above the wire rim 12. The latter form of mounting permits a plurality of carts in the store to be stored one inside the other, in the customary fashion, without interference.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 3, which shows a diagram of adding machine operation, it becomes apparent that the coin N (ten cents) is first dropped through the slot 24 (see FIG. 2), into the coin responsive mechanism A in order to operate the total reset mechanism B, which is set into motion by the prospective customer pushing upon a handle 25, releasing the adding mechanism C so as to allow the recording of the new cash purchases. The coin, if not rejected as a useless slug, is deposited in the coin box D.

It will now be recognized that my form of mounting an adding machine M to the stores cart 10, could be very useful to the store as well as to the customer. It may eliminate the customer bringing more groceries to the check stand than he has money to pay for. On the other hand, the customer would not hesitate to purchase other items which he might desire if it was possible for the customer to see that he (or she) was still Within his budget. It is, of course, obvious that any kind and form of adding machine of standard manufacture may be utilized in conjunction with my invention, as long as it is of small form, and does not interfere with the operation of the stores cart or endanger the safety of the customers.

A careful examination of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings, will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty, sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size and materials, and rearrangement of parts, may be resorted to in actual practice, as long as no departure is made from the invention claimed.

Having described my invention, what I claim is the following:

A coin operated adding machine for grocery carts, comprising a cart, an adding machine, a housing of substantially rectangular configuration for supporting said adding machine therein, said housing being provided with a slot, a lever pivotably secured with said adding machine and extending outwardly from said housing, said housing being provided with a plurality of holes, a plurality of buttons showing different monetary values thereon resiliently secured within said holes, and indicator mechanism of said adding machine secured on said housing for showing monetary values when at least one coin is inserted into said slot and at least one button is depressed, and said housing being secured above the wire rim of said cart thereby permitting a plurality of carts to be stored one inside the other without interference.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. MILTON L. SMITH, Examiner. 

